Josh Hayes

ACQUIRED BY BUCS:

Selected in the sixth round (181st overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

ACQUIRED BY BUCS:

Selected in the sixth round (181st overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

Has appeared in 30 career games for the Buccaneers, making three starts and recording 33 tackles, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery. Has also added 19 career special teams tackles.

Has appeared in three career postseason contests, recording four tackles.

Led the NFL in special teams tackles during the 2023 season, finishing with 14. His 14 special teams tackles marked the most by a Buccaneer since Russell Shepard recorded 14 in 2014.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS:

Appeared on nine special teams snaps in the Week 1 victory over Washington before leaving with injury.

Was inactive for the Week 2 victory at Detroit. x Appeared on special teams in Weeks 3-7.

Played his first defensive snaps of the season in Week 8 vs. Atlanta, appearing on 32-of-62 defensive snaps and recording a then-career-high five tackles.

Made his first NFL start in Week 9 at Kansas City, playing 79-of-85 defensive snaps and totaling a then-career-high six tackles, his first career pass defensed and first career fumble recovery.

Played all 64 defensive snaps in Week 10 vs. San Francisco, finishing with six tackles and a then-career-high two passes defensed.

Was targeted 10 times in Week 10, forcing a 50% opponent completion percentage and allowing just 51 receiving yards.

Appeared on special teams in the Week 12 win over the New York Giants, playing 14 special teams snaps and recording one special teams tackle.

In the Week 13 win at Carolina, played a team-leading 27 special teams snaps, logging one special teams tackle.

Was inactive for Week 14 vs. Las Vegas.

Played 13 special teams snaps in the Week 15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, tallying a then-season-high two special teams tackles.

Appeared on 19 special teams snaps in Week 16 at Dallas.

In the Week 17 win over Carolina, played 22-of-47 defensive snaps and recorded one tackle.

Started at cornerback in the Week 18 victory over New Orleans, playing 65- of-66 defensive snaps and amassing a career-high 11 tackles.

In the Wild Card round against Washington, played 25-of-73 defensive snaps and tallied four tackles.

COLLEGE:

Appeared in 68 career games across six seasons between North Dakota State (2017-20), the University of Virginia (2021) and Kansas State University (2022).

In his collegiate career, amassed 204 tackles, 26 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

As a super senior at Kansas State in 2022, started 13 games and recorded 71 tackles (a career-high 5.5 for loss), seven passes defensed and one forced fumble.

At the University of Virginia in 2021, appeared in three games and logged one tackle.

In 2020 at North Dakota State, appeared in six games, logging 30 tackles and three passes defensed.

In 2019, started all 16 games at cornerback for a North Dakota State team that won the FCS National Championship. Earned second team All-Missouri Valley Football honors after recording 59 tackles, 10 passes defensed, two interceptions and one forced fumble.

In 2018, appeared in 15 games and registered 28 tackles and three passes defensed.

As a freshman in 2017, saw action in 15 games and tallied 15 tackles, three passes defensed and one forced fumble.

PERSONAL:

Nephew of former Buccaneers linebacker Geno Hayes.

Originally from Lakeland, Fla., where he attended Lake Gibson High School.

Parents are Eugene and Dawn Hayes.

Has one sister, Sydney and one brother, Eugene Jr.

Has one daughter, Leilani.